Lanka Children’s and Youth Theatre Foundation (LCYTF): In 1981 Somalatha Subasinghe founded the Lanka Children’s and Youth Theatre Foundation (LCYTF) and Play House-Kotte, the theatre production and training arm of LCYTF, to promote theatre production and performances specifically for children and youth, training of actors, and research on theatre studies. Since 1981 the organisation has produced a repertoire of mainly musical theatre for children and youth and award-winning mainstream art theatre productions and performed them on the island as well as abroad. In January 2007, this institution was incorporated into the parliament under Act No. 3 of 2007. At present LCYTF is the topmost institution for children and youth theatre productions in Sri Lanka. 

Introduction: The prime objective of the programme is to develop a child’s mental and physical aspects and to enhance the artistic taste, cheerfulness and playful sense of the child through aesthetic experiences. The programme also gives the child the opportunity to learn a sense of caring, world awareness, experience in human relationships and socio-cultural values, a sense of basic art forms and more importantly confidence and dignity. 

To Whom: Children between the ages of four and a half to Twelve can take part in the programme. These activities are perceived as supplementary to the formal education the child obtains in schools. 

Learning Outcome: This programme gives the child the opportunity to learn the basics of 

(i) Enjoying and appreciating music 

(ii) free movements 

(iii) dancing and structured movements 

(iv) acting and language 

(v) singing and 

(vi) Art, handicrafts and puppetry. 

Resource Persons: The programme is conducted by Prof. Chandana Aluthge. In addition, artists who have obtained special training to work with children are assisting in the programme delivery. 

Duration and Time: The programme has three terms a year. The duration of one term is twelve weeks. The first term is from January to March, the second term is from May to July and the third term is from September to November in each year. The second term of 2024 is commencing on 4^th May 2024. Registration of children for the programme is done on a first-come-first-served basis.  

The programme is held on Saturdays from 8.30 am to 11.00 am.   

Each term stands on its own. Therefore, participating children can continue for several terms as much as they like. The programme is divided into terms largely to facilitate children to join the programme conveniently.

Participating children are kindly requested to bring their food and drinks. Children should be provided with suitable clothing to take part in Creative Activities Sessions. 

Fee: The fee for the programme is Rs. 5500/= per child per term. In addition, there is a one-time registration fee of Rs.500/=. When two children from the same family are enrolled, the second child gets a 10 per cent discount on the programme fee.

Introduction: The prime objective of the programme is to make drama and theatre learning an enjoyable experience for the participating children. All aspects of drama and theatre are presented to the child in an easy-to-understand way so that the artistic taste, cheerfulness and playful sense of the child are enhanced. The programme is based on created activities, and they give the child the opportunity to experience the most important learning outcomes of drama and theatre such as a sense of caring, world awareness, experience in human relationships and socio-cultural values, a sense of basic art forms and more importantly confidence and dignity.

To Whom: The programme is designed primarily for grade eight to G.C.E. O/L children who offer drama and theatre as a subject at school. However, since the programme is activity-based any student who has a knack to be creative and adventurous can join the programme. For such students, the activities of the programme can be considered supplementary to the formal education the child obtains in schools.

Learning Outcome: This programme gives the child the opportunity to learn and understand the basics of

(i) the origin, nature and different styles of theatre

(ii) different methods of drama acting

(iii) free and structured movements as an alternative method of expression

(iv) music appreciation and singing

(v) Art, handicrafts and puppetry, and

(vi) language proficiency.

Resource Persons: The programme is conducted by Prof. Chandana Aluthge and Playwright and Actor Nilanka Dahanayake. In addition, artistes/drama teachers who have obtained special training to work with children too are assisting the programme delivery.  

Duration and Time: The programme has three terms a year from January to March, May to July and September to November. Students can join into the programme in any term as each term stands on its own. Participating children can continue the programme until they reach GCE O/L. The learning objective of the pragrame is in line with the drama and theatre national curriculum from grade 7 to GCE O/L 

Registration of students for the programme is done on first come-first served basis. The programme is held on Saturdays from 11.15 am to 2.15 pm. One term consists of twelve three-hour consecutive sessions on Saturdays. 

The programme commences on 4 th May 2024. 

Participating children are kindly requested to bring their food and drinks. Children should be provided with suitable clothing (preferably loose garments) to take part in drama and theatre Session

Fee: The fee for the programme is Rs. 6000/= per child per term plus a one-time registration fee of Rs. 500/=. Parents are kindly requested to pay the total tuition fee (Rs. 6500/=) in one instalment at registration.